Mr Straw said the UK stood "four-square with civilised governments around the world, particularly with the government of India, on our approach to terrorism".

Mr Singh has rejected General Musharraf's speech earlier this week on the current tensions between the two countries as "dangerous and absurd, and on Tuesday said he regarded Pakistan as the "epicentre of terrorism" in the world.

But he also ruled out India launching the first nuclear strike in any conflict.

The British foreign secretary said he believed General Musharraf was serious about preventing such incursions.

But he added that the international community expected "action not words" from the general.

Future consideration

Earlier, Mr Straw told reporters that he had assured India that Britain condemned terrorism "in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism and terrorism that is dressed up as 'freedom fighters'".

After talks with various government and opposition politicians, Mr Straw also met Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday, but declined to give details.

He said he would be discussing his meetings in Delhi and Islamabad with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair during his flight back to the UK on Wednesday evening.

Mr Straw also said he would be talking to US Secretary of State Colin Powell and European Union officials.

"I do believe there is material here in the meetings that I have had which is worth of future consideration", he told reporters.

Mr Straw also hinted that western governments may have an informed role to play in the future.

Tension rose again in the region two weeks ago after an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir in which more than 30 people died.

In renewed clashes overnight, authorities in Pakistan said at least five people were killed and eight others injured when Indian troops shelled the Pakistani border village of Bajra Gahri in Punjab province.

While the Indian army said at least six people were killed in cross-border firing in Dras, 150 kilometres (155 miles) north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir.